MINNEAPOLIS — To say that the past few months have been difficult for the Twins may be an understatement. Winning just 12 games since Aug. 18, the slide has been hard to see for fans.
"I wish they would've planned better for the fall," Art Hansen, a fan, said.
"The chances aren't zero, but they're a little more difficult now," Kalli Vinson, another fan, said.
Playoff hopes were already slim going into the weekend, with a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and help from Detroit or Kansas City needed to sneak in.
"They had a really great start to the year, and then, of course, they started down hilling," Jen Katke said.
On a weekend meant to appreciate fans, some told KARE they felt the opposite – even going so far as to call for leadership changes.
"Two weeks ago we had a 95% chance, now we have a 3% chance," Jordan Kjenstad said. "Doesn't make any sense."
"Rocco Baldelli, coach the team, stuff that shouldn't be happening is happening," Ethan Kjenstad said. "It's pathetic."
Both Kjenstads held signs, one reading, "On this fan appreciation day... remember the Pohlads cut $30M from payroll." The other featured the Twins TC logo, with "Too cheap," spelled using the logo.
Even those covering the team say there's bad luck surrounding the choice to not splurge for players in the off-season.
"I think it's deserved based on the karma that was built up from ownership not investing in the offseason, not bringing in anyone of value at the trade deadline," Sam Ekstrom of Locked On Sports Minnesota said.
"I think the Pohlads are gonna take a lot of arrows for this because the payroll went down 20, 30 million," he continued. "There's been a lot of consternation with their TV deal, and fans are aware of this."
While the Twins chances look to run out Friday night, some fans are still optimistic – albeit still looking for more to be done.
"I feel like maybe not to that extent," Ryan Haines, a fan, said, speaking on those calling to sell the team. "I feel like they, they could put more money into the actual team building and worry a little less about the, you know, the media deals and other things like that."